Thursday, January 12, 2006

Advocate slashing services at West Side hospital

Bethany would close its emergency room next month and phase out other services over the next few months under a plan that needs to be approved by state officials, said Tony Mitchell, Advocate’s vice-president of communications and government relations.

By March, the 125-bed hospital would become a long-term specialty facility serving patients recuperating for an average of 25 days. The hospital would also shut its detox, intensive care and psychiatry programs, reducing total number of beds to 85.

Bethany Hospital is expected to lose $20 Million this year and more over the next three years. This move has prompted the Service Employees International Union to claim that Advocate is neglecting "poor neighborhoods and serves affluent suburbs ahead of inner-city neighborhoods."

The current plan must be approved by state officials however Tony Mitchell, Advocate’s vice-president of communications and government relations, had this to say about Advocate's plan...

“Part of what we want to do is figure out a way to sustain our commitment to the community and, at the same time, have an operation that is sustainable,”